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Dannielle DeAndrea (née Dannielle Gaha), sometimes styled as Danni'elle, (born 1967) is an Australian singer-songwriter. She has toured and recorded with fellow Australian John Farnham, their 1989 duet, "Communication", peaked at number 13 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Singles Chart. When based in London during 1992–1993, she released three solo singles, "Stuck in the Middle", "Do It for Love" and "Secret Love" which peaked into the top 100 on the United Kingdom charts and she is the first Australian artist to appear on the UK soul charts.

As Sheets Afyre, she was part of a singing duo, The Nissan Cedrics, with Louise Anton on ABC-TV comedy show, Club Buggery from 1995, which was hosted by Roy and HG. The Nissan Cedrics released, Going for a Song in 1997. Her debut solo album, You Don't Know Me, contains jazz covers, was issued in 2002. She is the sister of reality television producer Eden Gaha. In 2007, she married Kyle DeAndrea and they live in Los Angeles, California. Her second solo album, Chocolate for Holly appeared in 2008.

Career

DeAndrea was a backing vocalist for Glenn Shorrock (ex-Little River Band) during his solo tours in the late 1980s and together they released a duet single, "One Million Minutes of Peace" for the International Year of Peace (1986). She first came to national prominence in August 1989, on a duet with John Farnham (ex-Little River Band) called "Communication", which reached number 13 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Singles Chart. She toured with Jason Donovan as a backing vocalist in 1990 and on-stage she sang Kylie Minogue's part in the duet, "Especially for You" with Donovan. DeAndrea released her debut solo single, "I Like It" in 1991 and followed with "Secret Love" in 1992, neither had chart success in Australia. Late that year she signed to Epic Records and travelled to the UK. Her first UK single "Stuck in the Middle" peaked in the top 75—the radio version is much slower and lighter than the accompanying club remixes by Roger Sanchez and E-Smoove. Despite the club success of "Stuck in the Middle", it did not achieve a high chart placing. Epic released "Do It for Love" in February 1993, which peaked just outside the UK Top 50. Again, the track came with a batch of club remixes.

In June 1993, DeAndrea's remixed version of "Secret Love" was released, it became a UK club hit and peaked at No. 41. In 2002, an unofficial remix was issued due to demand from clubbers and distributed to various radio stations and clubs. The remixes came mostly from Dave Lee under his "Joey Negro" guise. The radio version - as was the case for her previous singles - was different from the club mixes. DeAndrea was the first Australian artist to hit the dance/soul charts in the UK with her singles.

As Sheets Afyre, she was part of a singing duo, The Nissan Cedrics, with Louise Anton (as Muff Merkin) on ABC-TV comedy show, Club Buggery from 1995, which was hosted by Roy and HG. The Nissan Cedrics released, Going for a Song in 1997.

She toured Australia with Farnham in 2002–2003 on his The Last Time Tour. Her debut album You Don't Know Me, released in 2003, was an entirely different musical direction for DeAndrea. It comprised covers of jazz and blues standards by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, and included, "Moon River", "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" and "The Masquerade Is Over". You Don't Know Me was well-received by critics and sold respectably in Australia but did not chart.

In early 2007, DeAndrea recorded an album with French composer Christophe Jacquelin, who found her on MySpace and flew her over for 2 weeks to record the album Lovers and Tears by Leaving the Ozone—a project with DeAndrea, Jacquelin and songwriter Claudia Phillips—with a French and Bulgarian orchestra. One of their songs was used for the closing credits on 3D IMAX movie Dolphins and Whales 3D: Tribes of the Ocean (2008). Also in 2007, DeAndrea married Kyle DeAndrea, they live in Los Angeles, California. She released a CD, Chocolate for Holly, which includes a reworked version of "Do It for Love". DeAndrea won a California State University, Northridge (CSUN) jazz competition in late 2007 and from that recorded her next original EP Be with Me".

In 2008 DeAndrea joined up with Scooter Pietsch and Jessica New to record a dance, pop album Supabeat. Songs from this album have been used on television series including, Degrassi High, The Bold and the Beautiful, MTV's Real World, The Greek and Burn Notice.

In March 2009, DeAndrea returned to Australia for the launch of Chocolate for Holly and Be with Me at The Vanguard, the performance was sold out. DeAndrea joined Farnham on his Back By Demand Tour in September-October 2009 throughout Australia. She also performed solo concerts of her own material and jazz standards into November.

In 2010 Dannielle Gaha DeAndrea toured Europe and North America as part of Jackson Browne's band. She will return to Australia in October to join John Farnham on his national tour. Dannielle will also be performing side shows to promote the release of her new single Blue Skies (available on ITunes worldwide).

Discography

Singles

Albums

References

1. ^ McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Danni'elle Gaha'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1865080721. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
2. ^ "Discography Danni'elle". Australian charts portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
3. ^ "UK Singles Chart runs". polyhex.com. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
4. ^ "Dannielle Gaha :: About this Artist". ReverbNation. eMinor, Inc. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
5. "Leaving the Ozone | Lovers and Tears". CD Baby. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
6. "Dannielle DeAndrea (aka Dannielle Gaha) Australian Tour". LiveGuide.com.au. Retrieved 30 May 2010.

External links

• Official website

• 1967 births
• Living people
• Australian dance musicians
• Australian female singers
• Australian pop singers